The owner of the German Shepherd has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after the canine was found trapped inside a car with no open windows on Saturday, July 26, outside St Helier Court, Balmes Road, on the De Beauvoir Estate.

Passers by became concerned about the dog and police were called just after 12.30pm but by the time they arrived, the owner of the vehicle had been located and released the animal from the vehicle.

Several members of the public were pouring water over the dog, who was lying on the floor and breathing heavily.

Police drove the dog to an east London animal hospital but it died on the way there.

The 27-year-old dog owner was arrested at the scene on suspicion of animal cruelty. He has been bailed to an east London police station until September.

Police await the post mortem results from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

The RSPCA warns owners to never leave dogs alone in a car, because they are unable to cool down in hot stuffy vehicles and could die from heatstroke.

With a temperature of 22C outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47C within just one hour.

Dogs suffering from heatstroke lose control of their muscles, and their vital organs begin to shut down.

On July 21, the hottest day of the year, Sgt Richard Berns from the Brownswood safer neighbourhood team, rescued a dog which had overheated in a car parked in Finsbury Park by smashing the window.

He received an award from animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for his action.

At the time he said: “This dog was left in this car on the hottest day of the year with no water or ventilation. It has both now.

“That’s why I smashed the rear window, away from the dog, and the owner will pay for the damage. Not the taxpayer.”

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